On the way from Midian, Moses received a startling and terrible warning of the Lord's displeasure. An angel appeared to him in a threatening manner, as if he would immediately destroy him. No explanation was given; but Moses remembered that he had disregarded one of God's requirements; yielding to the 256 persuasion of his wife, he had neglected to perform the rite of circumcision upon their youngest son. He had failed to comply with the condition by which his child could be entitled to the blessings of God's covenant with Israel; and such a neglect on the part of their chosen leader could not but lessen the force of the divine precepts upon the people. Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. In his mission to Pharaoh, Moses was to be placed in a position of great peril; his life could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. But while living in neglect of a known duty, he would not be secure; for he could not be shielded by the angels of God.

På vejen fra Midjan fik Moses en frygtelig og overraskende advarsel om Herrens mishag. En engel viste sig truende for ham, som om den straks ville dræbe ham. Der blev ikke givet nogen forklaring herpå, men Moses huskede, at han havde tilsidesat en af Guds befalinger. Han havde givet efter for sin hustrus overtalelser og undladt at omskære deres yngste søn. Han havde ikke opfyldt betingelsen for, at hans barn kunne få del i de velsignelser, der fulgte med Guds pagt med Israel. En sådan ligegyldighed hos folkets leder kunne kun formindske de guddommelige forskrifters betydning i folkets øjne. Zippora frygtede for, at hendes mand ville blive slået ihjel, og udførte selv ceremonien. Englen tillod derefter Moses at rejse videre. Under udøvelsen af sit erhverv hos Farao ville Moses blive sat på en meget farlig post. Hans liv kunne kun bevares ved hellige engles beskyttelse. Men så længe han bevidst viste ligegyldighed over for en kendt pligt, kunne han ikke føle sig sikker, for Guds engle kunne ikke beskytte ham.